Every place has a story. As we continue our virtual trip through Germany, we’ll explore the country’s defining historic moments after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to today.

Our journey begins on the far eastern edge of the country in “Florence on the Elbe” and ends in one of today’s major financial hubs in the west. Each city or town opens a window into Germany’s 2000-year-old past and gives a glimpse into people’s lives, their distinctive way of thinking, their art and music, and their buildings.

Every story has a protagonist. Ours opens with the opulent monarch Augustus the Strong in Dresden (17th century) and continues with enlightened kings, poets, and thinkers in Potsdam and Weimar. The Romantics discovered the Rhine in their quest for national identity and Chancellor Otto von Bismarck masterminded the German unification in Berlin (19th century). Avant-garde artists and architects were labeled “degenerate” by the Nazis in Munich, and peaceful protesters gathered in Leipzig to call for change opening the door to reunification.

This class will include sights, artwork, and architecture, as well as music samples that will inspire discussion and ultimately paint the big picture of Germany’s history.

This course can be taken as a stand-alone class or as a continuation of part 1 from the winter term.